Birth Control While Breastfeeding

5 Safe and Effective Birth Control Methods For Nursing Moms

This following information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.

As a new mom, you may find yourself facing many decisions from a new perspective. The birth control choice that was right for you before pregnancy may not be the right choice after having a baby, especially if you are nursing. For answers about birth control after baby, including when to start and what options are best while breastfeeding, I considered both my doctor's advice and the experiences shared by Circle of Moms members.

When to Start

Typically, doctors advise holding off on intercourse until you have a checkup with your ob-gyn about six weeks after giving birth. At this visit, your doctor will evaluate how you are healing and whether it is safe to begin having sex again. It's important to give your body a break, and as Circle of Moms member Kristin G. says: "Now is a really good time to talk to your OB/Gyn about the options available and do a little research on your own. Also, talk with your husband about the size of family you think you might want and how far apart you might want them to be... You need to let yourself heal. You've got time to make these choices."

Birth Control and Breastfeeding

If you are nursing your newborn, there are some special considerations when it comes to choosing the right birth control method. You want a proven, effective way to prevent pregnancy without decreasing your milk supply or causing your baby to ingest anything harmful. Your main choices fall into two categories: nonhormonal birth control or hormonal birth control.

IUD — ParaGard
A long-acting, nonhormonal birth control method that is gaining popularity in the US is the ParaGard IUD (intrauterine device). Unlike the other IUD, which is known as Mirena, ParaGard uses no hormones, which is one of the reasons Circle of Moms user Margaret K. likes this option: "I have Paragard IUD. Works fabulously. Longer and heavier each month but no cramping which is a plus for me. It also lasts for 10-12 years." An IUD can usually be inserted by your doctor during an office visit. The most common ParaGard side effect indicated by women in the Circle of Moms communities is heavier periods. Read more about the ParaGard IUD on the manufacturer's website, ParaGard.com.

Hormonal Options

IUD — Mirena
There are birth control methods that use low doses of hormones and are considered safe while breastfeeding. As mentioned above, another long-acting IUD called Mirena has gained popularity in recent years. Mirena is similar to ParaGard, except that it releases low doses of hormones and lasts for up to five years. There is quite a lot of chatter about Mirena in the Circle of Moms communities. You will find members who share very positive experiences, as well as moms who had complications and problems with this method. Samantha M. had nothing but great things to say about her decision to get Mirena: "I got it six weeks after my son was born (he is two now), and I have had no problems with it at all! I would recommend [it] because it is good for five years. I also haven't had a cycle in two years, which is another huge benefit!" A community on Circle of Moms called "Mirena Moms" is dedicated to moms who use or have used the Mirena IUD and have had problems as a result. If you are considering Mirena, this community discusses side effects in detail. Read more about the Mirena IUD on the manufacturer's website, Mirena.com.

Minipill
Another very popular hormonal birth control for nursing mothers is the "minipill." There are several different manufacturers' names for birth control pills that only contain the hormone progestin. Megan B. says her doctor prescribed a minipill called Micronor: "It is low dose, that way no more hormones than necessary get into the breast milk." Alison O. also likes the minipill because "It's not supposed to mess with your milk supply". If you have used birth control pills in the past, the risks and side effects are about the same with the minipill. According to WebMD, minipills are about 95 percent effective, which is slightly less effective than standard birth control pills.

Injectables and Implants
I put these in the same category because they use virtually the same hormone and both are inserted in the arm — the only difference is the delivery method. Depo-Provera is a shot that you get in your arm every few months. It is highly effective at preventing pregnancy and safe for nursing moms, however, many doctors have moved away from Depo because of evidence that it causes significant bone loss with prolonged use. (See: "Birth Control and Depo-Provera" at WebMD.) Some women in the Circle of Moms communities who have used Depo over the years also reported side effects including weight gain, loss of libido, mood swings, and irregular bleeding. Implanon is a similar form of birth control in which a matchstick-sized rod is placed under the skin of your arm. It remains in place and is effective for up to three years. Women who share their Implanon experiences on Circle of Moms report similar side effects to those listed above for Depo-Provera. Racheal S. used this method in the years before having her twins and again, after: "I loved it although it makes your period irregular sometimes... It was just hassle-free and a lot cheaper than the pill." Evelyn M. also recommends Implanon: "I've had mine in [for] 1.5 years. Very good, high contraceptive protection. Everybody is different in how they react/get side effects. I personally don't have many and found it good. I don't get periods anymore!" Read more about Implanon on the manufacturer's website, Implanon-usa.com.

Is Breastfeeding Birth Control?

There is a great deal of debate over whether or not nursing your baby is birth control in itself. It is a fact that breastfeeding can delay ovulation, and there is a practice known as lactational amenorrhea that women have used for centuries to prevent pregnancy. Circle of Moms member Sara J. outlines the method very well: "You cannot supplement at all with anything. You must feed on demand, day and night. Ecological breastfeeding works best to prevent the return of fertility. Moms that practice ecological breastfeeding co-sleep, feed on demand day and night, no pacifiers or bottles, and usually delay the introduction of solids."

Even if you are able to adhere to these strict methods and delay ovulation, you will begin to ovulate again at some point in time. Skipping a feeding here and there, along with your baby's natural progression to solids, will put an end to the birth control aspect of breastfeeding. Will you know when that happens? As Melissa J. says, "the reason it is not reliable birth control is because you never know when you will start ovulating again."

Which birth control method has worked best for you since becoming a mom?

I just has a Mirena put in at my 6 week appt. My husband and I aren't sure if we want more kids so this gives us a few years the figure it out. My doctor agreed that it was a good choice since we already have 2 kids and are unsure about having more. I had a little bit of cramping afterwards but when it was actually being inserted I barely felt anything.

I had my baby almost 4 months ago and since then I have been on the mini pill Errin. I also had the Essure procedure done. This procedure is permanent which is what I was looking for. I have 2 children who are 12 years apart. I am sure that I don't want anymore children so this was the ideal procedure for me.
Before I met my husband and planned for my second child, I had the Depo shot which was worth every penny because it lasted for 3 months.

Why is there nothing about getting a tubal litigation or essure implants in this article? The best decision I ever made after I had my second was getting a tubal. Although permanent, being pregnant again was not a good option for me, and I knew it while I was pregnant with my second child. I had a devil of a time finding good, solid articles on the internet about either of the before mentioned birth controls. Thank God I had to switch OBs and I got a very nice, respectful, knowledgeable doc who was happy to do the procedure and fill me in about them!!